Claus, who spends his year making toys, is preparing to make his annual trip around the world during the late hours of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

He is one of the most recognized faces of the Christmas season with a beard as white as snow and a little, round belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly when he laughs. But, do you really know him?

In a phone interview Thursday, Santa took time to update his delivery schedule and answer pressing questions from the community.

“I’ve been on schedule until yesterday,” said Santa. “The snow might be slowing me down a bit, but that’s not going to stop me.”

According to Santa, he will begin delivery of presents to good boys and girls Christmas Eve, starting at the far south and working his way back to the North Pole.

Santa delivers to more households than all of the United States Postal Service offices combined. He relies heavily on the help and support of hundreds of elves, nine flying reindeer and his wife, Mrs. Claus.

“Sometime Mrs. Claus helps,” said Santa.

When asked if he has a special gift for Mrs. Claus, Santa chuckled.

“I can’t tell you that,” Santa said.

Rudolph, the red-nose reindeer, leads the pack of flying reindeer which pull Santa’s gift-filled sleigh around the world in a single night. As the leader, he is an important part of Santa’s team.

“If Rudolph gets sick, I have to call in his cousin, Levi, the red-neck reindeer,” said Santa.

Of all the hundreds of thousands of children Santa received wishlists from, he added the Nintendo 3DS is the most popular gift of the season.

Santa added technology has really improved his production and delivery schedule and made the cold air more tolerable.

“When I go south and its a little warmer, I have an air pack I can cool down with built in to my suit,” said Santa. “And, when it’s cold I have a built in heat pack.”

“My sleigh has an air horn and GPS so Rudolph don’t get lost,” said Santa.

Santa is looking forward to spreading joy around the world, but not as much as finding the homes with peanut butter cookies and milk left out for him.

When asked if anyone in Creston is on his naughty list, Santa was cautious.

“I’ve got one,” said Santa. “But, I can’t say who.”

As for the day after Christmas, Santa plans on spending it with his wife.

“Just get me a Coca-Cola and I sit and relax,” said Santa.

If you didn’t get to visit with Santa Claus, there is always next year. However, some lucky children will get to visit with him this weekend on his final visit to Creston.

“I also have one home to visit this weekend for a family that won’t be in town on Christmas,” said Claus.

Claus ended the phone interview with well wishes of a safe and happy holiday and new year. He also offered three suggestions for you to remain on the nice list.

“Listen to your parents and teachers,” said Claus. “Stay off the slick roads and have a safe and merry Christmas.”